Drone Rules and Regulations in the Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, drone operators are subject to Civil Aviation Law 491-06 as well as Technical Standard N-C 14. The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), which monitors and enforces compliance with aviation law, and the Dominican Civil Aviation Board (JADC), the country’s regulatory body, are responsible for the enforcement of laws and regulation pertaining to the operation of unmanned aircraft . According to Technical Standard N-C 14, in order to operate a drone for commercial purposes, drone operators must provide the following: Beyond simply meeting the guidelines above, drone operators must also be aware of and comply with applicable trespass, privacy and other laws. Drones flying in foreign airspace are subject to the laws of that specific jurisdiction, and failure to abide by local laws can result in steep fines and possible imprisonment.
Drone Registration in the Dominican Republic
In general, all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used for leisure purposes need to be registered in the Dominican Republic. Commercial UAV services are pretty much prohibited at the moment: the approval process for flight operations permits can be prohibitively long and demanding.
But that doesn’t mean that you can simply buy a drone and take off into the sunset. The registration process for UAVs intended for tourist purposes is fairly simple. Every recreational UAV pilot in the DR must register their drone with flydronedr.com, inactive the 3DR Online Toolkit and subsequent flydronedr.com account for web-based flight notifications. The registration process and form is free of charge.
The only drones which do not require registration in the Dominican Republic are small unmanned aircraft. These include the Parrot Bebop, Parrot Bebop 2 and Syma X5C. Everything else, including onboard cameras and additional batteries, weighs just too much.
All in all, even if you want to use your drone for recreational purposes, you need to register it as a UAV and sign terms and conditions that limit you to safe flying. The benefits, as far as we can see it, far outweighs the downsides.
Recreational Drone Usage Rules
Recreational drone flights in the Dominican Republic are also subject to a number of restrictions and guidelines. As is the case in many other countries, children under the age of 16 are prohibited from operating drones. Like commercial drone pilots, recreational drone pilots must also keep their drones within visual line of sight (VLOS) and they should be instructed not to fly in or around no-fly zones or areas with temporary flight restrictions (TFRs). When flying their drones, recreational UAV pilots should also keep their drones below 150 meters. In terms of designated areas in which to fly, recreational drone operators should only fly in approved airfields, UAV parks and open areas that have been approved by INDOTEL.
Commercial Drone Usage Rules
In the Dominican Republic, commercial operators must apply for a concession from the Institute of Civil Aviation of the Dominican Republic (IDAC). While the application process seems rigorous, it does create a helpful paper trail to document the applicant’s intent.
- Instruction letter for the introduction of an aerial work company in the IDAC
- General plan of the company with the workflows, number of employees, administrative requirements, required
- Description of work and job plan
- Documented experience of the company and its representatives
- Commercial offer for aerial services with specifications (optionally it could include commercial)
This documentation is then registered to determine if the applicant would like to operate under a commercial name. If the applicant prefers to operate as an independent contractor, the work plan will suffice.
Once the application has been filed, IDAC may request the following information:
- Certificate of identification of the physical person or company
- Valid certificate in aeronautical knowledge
- Certificate of scientific knowledge in aeronautics for models 1-5
- Report of the International Commission on Civil Aviation (ICCA) on model regulations
- Filing Fees
According to Circular 97-01, Section 4 – General Requirements Commercial Drone Operations, the following specifics must be completed:
- The physical requirements of the individual conducting the flight must be determined
- Particularities of the area of operations must be conducted
- Set the meteorological requirements of the area of operations
- Environmental studies must be carried out
- The technical characteristics of the aircraft must be determined
- Set the parameters of the applicability and sustainability of the company
- Limitations or special conditions that must be required
- Special needs for the crew and/or personnel on the ground
- Application limits must be set
- Record behaviors must be established
- Risks must be assessed and mitigated
- Hazardous materials must be identified
- Restrictions or limitations must be established
- If applicable, a plan for dispersion and modification of the environment must be established
- If the aircraft is governed by the European Union, modification must be determined in accordance with their standards
Dominican Republic Drone No-Fly Zones and Other Restrictions
The vast majority of the Dominican Republic is considered open airspace, and, with the appropriate permits and permissions, drone operators can fly in many areas. However, the country also has restricted airspace where people and property are regularly present, and, therefore, the risk of accidents is high. Your drone must not fly within 8 kilometers of an airport, unless permitted by the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) . This typically applies to larger commercial vehicles, as most hobby drones are limited to 500 meters of altitude. IDAC has also restricted drone flights in major cities and tourist destinations throughout the Dominican Republic. These areas are off-limits for drone pilots: Drone flights are also subject to temporary flight restrictions in the Dominican Republic, which is common during international sporting events, national disasters, or even when a dignitary is visiting.
Penalties for Drone Rule Violations
Violating Dominican drone laws can result in hefty fines, confiscation of equipment, and possibly even imprisonment depending upon the nature of the offense. Drone users in the Dominican Republic must be aware of the potential legal pitfalls associated with their activity. If you commercial airlines drones commercially or recreationally, it’s in your best interest to abide by all drone regulations in the Dominican Republic. Very strict penalties apply for all violations of drone laws. Penalties range from fines ranging from $1,000 to $5000, confiscation of drones, and seizures of computers, cameras, cell phones and recording equipment. Additionally, individuals who violate drone laws may face arrest and even imprisonment. Drone users also need to be aware of security measures put in place at airports, where international drone-related arrests have taken place.
Safe and Legal Drone Flying Tips
1. Register with the National Civil Aviation Institute (INAC)
Before taking off with your drone in the Dominican Republic, it’s a good idea to register it with INAC. To do so, simply send an email request to [email protected] of INAC including:
a) ID cards of company directors (if applicable);
b) ID card of the operator of the drone (if applicable);
c) country of origin of the drone and details if it is import into the Dominican Republic;
d) type, model, and specifications of the drone;
e) if not the owner of the drone, copy of the contract lease or other authorized permission for the operation of the drone; and
f) the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the area where the flight would take place.
Upon registration, you will be assigned a flight permit number and receive an electronic notification. Be prepared to supply the serial number of your drone along with other related information. If your flight is for commercial purposes or in a restricted area, other requirements may apply.
2. Check for any local laws
Confirm that there are no other local laws forbidding flying drones in any particular location such as at some tourist resorts or beaches. Local municipalities or resorts may make rules for fly drones in their vicinity . San Antonio in the Santiago province is one example. The best way to find out about any restrictions in an area is to check online with municipal or tourism websites ahead of time.
3. Comply with zoning restrictions
By law, drones cannot be flown near airports, roadways, schools, parks, stadiums, or in areas where crowds gather. In addition, a permit to operate in restricted areas such as airports or military sites may be required. It’s usually best to contact the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) directly to double-check whether you will need special permission to fly at your desired location.
4. Obtain insurance
Major drone manufacturers now require drone operators to obtain insurance policies due to the risk of accidents that occur during drone operations. This is true when flying drones for commercial purposes such as real estate photography, wedding photography, or for use by police or fire departments. Standard aircraft insurance policies typically cover drone use.
5. Monitor changes to the laws
Drone laws in the Dominican Republic have changed frequently and may change again in the future. It is a good idea to regularly monitor Inac, IDAC and other governmental websites for up-to-date information regarding any new requirements or restrictions.